"Do you know this is a REALLY bad idea?"

We went to see a not to be named physician yesterday who, without even an introduction, asked us over the rim of his glasses if we knew that taking Marshall to Mali was a really bad idea. Not once but THREE TIMES. A little bit of context. Ian and I were there to get our yellow fever vaccinations required to travel to Mali. Marshall was simply along for the ride and this man had not one bit of pediatrician in him. He then kept us there for an hour and a half, most of the time pouting that we would not agree to postpone our trip for a year based on his omnipotent Dr. God advice. The topper was his almost shock and suprise that we had already identified a lead on a pediatrican (from other crazy Americans living there with babies younger than Marshall) in Bamako where we will be living. Bottom line, none of us like this man. If you ever need a yellow fever shot in Eugene, let me know and I will out him so you do not have to go through this business.

We understand that many people, unlike this so called doctor, actually care about Marshall, don't want him hurt and worry based off of the information they have about taking a baby to the third world in general. So, for anyone that may be reading, wondering the same thing, some clarification on the whole taking a small baby to Mali.

I can't find it now, but a recent post by the CDC on their website about travelling with children to Mali(that I am pretty sure is what this yahoo read) sounded really scary by stating "the rates of infant mortality and morbidity in Mali are extremely high." Honestly, this is one of the first things I read and I, too, was wondering if this was really a good idea. If we take a good look at this statement, it is true. MALIAN infant mortality and morbidity rates are high. The life of an average Malian infant? Well, they have limited, if no, access to medical care. They, and the mothers that feed them are malnourished. They are exposed to untreated water regularly that has all sorts of nasty little things swimming in it. They do not sleep with mosquito nets.
Marshall will have access to all the medical care we can get him in the capital where we will be living and where care is not far away. Should he need more than Mali can provide, our comprehensive travel health insurance covers evacuating him to Europe or the US for further care. We will both be well nourished, living on an income that is exponentially higher than the average Malian family. His water will be treated, he will sleep under a net. In otherwords, Marshall will not be living the life of an average Malian infant.

Dr. Not so Smart Ass also thought he should ask if we are ok with the 50% chance that Marshall could die from yellow fever. What a ludicrous question to ask someone who is otherwise sane...I got similar comments and questions when I was 3 weeks overdue with him as well. Am I ok with such a high chance my child will die?!! Its like asking if I'm ok with dropping him from the roof of a 20 story building into a burning pit! Of course I am not ok with that! And of course I would do everything in my power to avoid such harm to my precious child! If I have chosen this path, it is being comfortable with the risks I am taking and knowing he is again, speaking out of context. There is less than a 1% chace Marshall will contract yellow fever and from there, a 15% chance he would die. In fact, the chance of Marshall dying from any infection is less than 1% while there. He has a better chance of being killed in a car accident(less than stateside I might add) than from any horrible disease. The chances of him dying from the flu or pneumonia here in the states? 2.7%...

Am I sounding mad enough yet? He warped a statement that 50% of yellow fever cases that are TOXIC(only one third of yellow fever cases) end in death. What a horrible thing to say to new first time parents!

Ok, so final thought on this matter in case you are still worried in a caring way. The last outbreak of yellow fever in Mali was in 1987. The last "incident" was in 2005, 400 miles away from where we will be. 14 people did die then. The world health community responded with sending 4.2 million doses of vaccine to surrounding areas. This year, Mali is part of a multi country $562 million project to eradicate the last bits of yellow fever in West Africa. They even beleive that malaria may be nipped in the bud in the next few years.

Marshall Darwin...

This is Marshall Darwin Edwards. Marshall is a happy, alert and extremely adored little one. After a week of labor, he came into this world with a roar on June 26, 2007. He was named after some dear family friends and, among other things and reasons, the scientist Charles Darwin. Although, did you know that Darwin also means "dear old friend?"
Marshall and all of us(Dad Ian and Mom Steph) will be leaving for Mali in West Africa for 9 months at the end of November. This blog is intended to chart his, well, our, journey. There's no better way to start one's own story but with a real adventure....